The main goal of the paper is to review the existing state and propose a model solution for the introduction of the waste-to-energy concept in the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as these Balkan countries are a source of high pollution due to the inefficient use of fossil fuels and the operation of coal-fired power plants.
A project on preventing marine litter commenced in 2018 and involves local and national actors in the waste and recycling industry in Albania, Montenegro and BiH. The focus of implementation is on regional cooperation and the exchange of knowledge between national institutions, municipalities and companies.
As drivers of the energetical transition, multi-metal or battery recycling plants play a determinant role into securing availability of mineral raw materials that are both strategically important and highly demanded by keeping them away from the landfills and reducing the need for importing them.
In addition to Greenhouse''s commercialisation licenses for the United Kingdom, Ireland and Italy, the commercialisation rights in the Western Balkans include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Slovakia.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has stated various qualitative objectives, such as: increasing the amount of treated waste • improving the coverage of waste disposal • closing municipal landfills and gradually transferring to a regional disposal model • combining separation and recycling targets with
The main goal of the paper is to review the existing state and propose a model solution for the introduction of the waste-to-energy concept in the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as these Balkan countries are a source of high pollution due to the inefficient use of fossil fuels and the operation of coal-fired power plants. Besides, these countries have very low level of waste management, which results in the uncontrolled disposal of a large amount of waste which consists of plastic and microplastic materials which are difficult to decompose in natural ecosystems.
Considering the type and objectives of the study, a mixed research method was chosen as a combination of exploratory research, descriptive research, explanatory research, and modeling.
The paper emphasizes the importance of a holistic and systemic approach to waste management, with emphasis on using waste-to-energy concept as particularly applicable in the transition to circular economy. This study proposes a model for the integration of waste management (with emphasis on plastic and microplastic) and energy efficiency, presenting a model of approach that can be used in countries that are at the beginning of introducing a circular economy.
If waste is not handled adequately, it poses a risk to human health and the environment [4]. Waste management is one of the key issues of sustainable development, especially if one considers the variety of waste and its potentially harmful effects, as well as the limited capacities of developing countries and economies in transition. Based on the preceding, it is feasible to deduce that waste management is intricately linked to a number of additional worldwide predicaments, including but not limited to health concerns, climate change mitigation, reduction of poverty, natural resource and food security, and sustainable production and consumption [5].
To implement the 2030 Agenda, the UN and other international organizations have proposed specific waste management indicators for specific goals. Each country should adapt them to its national goals, i.e., include them in national planning processes, policies, and strategies, taking into account the circular approach [6].
Municipal waste management includes the collection, treatment, and final disposal of waste produced by households, small and medium-sized enterprises, medical institutions, shops, craft shops, industry, agriculture, etc. The current linear economic model based on the "take–make–dispose" pattern is reaching its physical limits amid estimates that the waste produced annually will reach 2.59 billion tons by 2030 and that this amount will rise to 3.40 billion tons worldwide by 2050 [7].
The traditional linear production process ("take–make–dispose") tends to be replaced by a circular production process: circular economy (CE). As a fundamental part of CE, the service life of materials is extended through the imperatives of reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery, which are widely accepted as the foundations of CE [8]. In other words, materials and resources must be kept active in the economy for as long as possible by extending their lifespan, thereby minimizing waste. Recycling is one of the ways to reuse products and thus reduce the extraction of primary natural resources [9].
By keeping products, components, and parts in their use and maintaining their maximum value at all times, CE is based on the efficient use of our natural resources while reducing environmental impact. By creating industrial systems that are regenerative in nature, CE simultaneously reduces resource dependence and minimizes waste production. In addition to the direct cost savings associated with resource extraction and waste processing, CE increases supply chain resilience and reduces greenhouse gas emissions while increasing the potential for innovation and job creation [17, 18].
CE is transformative as it signifies a cultural shift towards alternative methods of production and consumption, introducing new models for business and management practices. It requires a holistic and systemic approach that cuts across sectoral policies and a functional approach that goes beyond the administrative boundaries of cities in order to close narrow and slow loops [19, 20]. Waste generation is minimized in CE with the help of careful design of new products and industrial process in which materials are continuously circulated in a closed loop [21]. Application of the CE concept encourages environmental protection and social well-being [22].
In developing countries, CE can have a significant impact on reducing poverty and increasing productivity and sustainable development. However, the implementation of CE in developing countries faces a number of challenges. Many of these countries are characterized by limited resources, poorly developed infrastructures, and a lack of financial means to invest in new technologies. In addition, it is important to take into account cultural and social factors that can affect the success of implementation. With the right approach and support, CE can be a key element in the development of developing countries, in reducing poverty, stimulating economic growth, and protecting the environment.
Efforts to implement CE in waste management have been recognized in EU member states and beyond. Many examples speak in favor of this fact. Progress is noticeable through the implementation of public policies at the national level as well as through individual initiatives in the industrial and economic sectors. The countries of Western Europe, Japan, and China are recognized as leaders in encouraging the CE model, and their governments have played a key role in providing incentives and supporting companies to adopt circular business models [23].
China has developed a wide range of activities to realize the CE concept and implemented a comprehensive policy for the application of CE. In 2020, China set a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. The emphasis is on new business models, the industrial symbiosis of cities through the application of material flow analysis, and the reduction of CO2 emissions [28]. The Japanese food industry recycles about 85% of food waste, turning it into animal feed, fertilizer, or methane [29].
The implementation of circular economy ideas in South Australia is mostly focused on changing the way the economy values and utilizes resources. This is achieved through using and recycling waste from households, developing industrial solutions to reduce food waste, transforming packaging and single-use items, etc. In this regard, in 2019, the Government of South Australia initiated a research consortium to convert large amounts of waste from primary agricultural production into high-quality products such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, or packaging [31].
Today, modern society is faced with large amounts of waste. Waste is created as a consequence of all human activities. Unsustainable patterns of production and consumption of natural resources contribute to the generation of an increasing amount of waste, and inadequate disposal of waste leads to the loss of valuable components from waste and incalculable consequences for the environment and human health.
According to data presented in the 2018 European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy, 25.8 million tons of plastic waste are generated in Europe every year, of which less than 30% is collected for recycling. Additionally, the strategy identifies microplastics as a special problem, which, in European countries, are emitted into the environment in quantities of 75,000 to 300,000 tons per year. Plastic microparticles (less than 5 mm) enter the environment through the fragmentation of plastic waste and direct emission, given that they are used as additives in many production processes, which makes it challenging to monitor and control their emission into the environment [32].
The classification of waste in EU member states is carried out according to the Waste Catalogue (EWG), which has been transposed into the legislation of the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Within the Catalogue, waste is systematized according to the activities in which it was generated but also according to the type of waste, materials, or processes [33].
The subject of the research in this paper is an overview of the state of municipal waste management in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) and the Republic of Serbia (Serbia). The aim of the paper is to highlight the advantages and disadvantages in this sector and propose measures for policy-making and governance novelties and improvement in current waste management in order to implement CE in full scope in these two countries in the future.
The selection of research methods is primarily determined based on the fact that waste management and its use for obtaining energy are problems regulated in Western Balkan countries exclusively by specific legal provisions and related rules. In addition, scientifically based research and studies are rare, and the amount of available data are insufficient to conduct data analysis that could be considered acceptable regarding statistical reliability. Therefore, a mixed research method was chosen.
First, it was determined that the exploratory research approach was appropriate for investigating subjects for which there is not enough reliable data and for which it is necessary to form a specific basis for the research process.
Descriptive analysis was chosen because it is based on the description of the observed phenomenon (waste management, energy production from waste), for which the input information was obtained by applying the previously performed exploratory analysis.
In order to fill the gaps that evidently exist when it comes to the observed research problem, the explanatory research method was selected and applied to the results obtained by applying exploratory and descriptive analysis.
In consideration of the imperative to enhance waste management practices in the Western Balkans and promote the adoption of the "waste-to-energy" methodology, the concluding section of the research utilizes modeling as a distinct research technique that facilitates the development of a more comprehensive waste management system and an overview of its components and interrelationships. Thus, a proposal is presented to support further research on the particulars of the Western Balkan countries.
BIH is a country in Southeast Europe. It covers an area of 51,222 km2 with 3,531,159 inhabitants. As for the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 43% is urban, and 57% is rural [39]. BIH consists of two entities: The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, and the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Waste management is entrusted to entities and to the Brčko District.
The amount of waste depends on economic conditions, standard of living, urbanization, and the population [40]. Municipal waste production per inhabitant ranged from 0.09 kg/day in Ghana to 5.50 kg/day in Antigua and Barbuda; the median was 0.94 kg/day [41]. In 2021, the amount of municipal waste collected in BIH amounted to 1.23 million tons, i.e., 0.98 kg per inhabitant per day [42]. The amount of municipal waste per inhabitant in BIH in the period from 2018 to 2021 ranged from 0.97 to 0.98 kg/day (Table 1).
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